Distal release retrieval assembly and related methods of use

ABSTRACT

A device and related method of use is provided for the capture and removal of various unwanted objects present within the body&#39;s anatomical lumens. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the device includes an external elongate member; an internal elongate member disposed within the external elongate member; and a retrieval assembly connected to the internal elongate member and retractable within and extendable from a lumen of the external elongate member. The retrieval assembly includes an end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of this invention relate generally to medical devices andprocedures. In particular, embodiments of the instant invention relateto medical devices and procedures for assisting in the removal of tissueor foreign matter from a body portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The biliary system delivers bile produced by the liver to the duodenumwhere the bile assists other gastric fluids in digesting food. Thebiliary system includes the liver, as well as a plurality of bodilychannels and organs that are disposed between the liver and duodenum.When the liver produces bile, the bile enters biliary ducts that haverelatively small cross-sectional areas, and that are dispersedthroughout the liver. These biliary ducts carry the bile away from theliver and gradually merge with other biliary ducts. The last of thebiliary ducts merge into the main biliary duct, from which the bileflows into the duodenum.

The biliary system also includes a gallbladder connected to one or moreof the biliary ducts via the cystic duct. The gallbladder stores excessbile produced by the liver, and introduces the stored bile into theduodenum via the cystic duct and the biliary ducts when necessary.

Sometimes organic material (e.g., blood clots, tissue, and biologicalconcretions such as urinary, biliary, and pancreatic stones) orinorganic material (e.g., components of a medical devices or otherforeign matter) may obstruct or otherwise be present within the body'sanatomical lumens, such as the biliary tree. For example, biologicalconcretions can develop in certain parts of the body, such as kidneys,pancreas, and gallbladder. Minimally invasive medical proceduresgenerally involve causing limited trauma to the tissues of the patient,and can be used to dispose of certain problematic biological concretionsor similarly unwanted obstructions.

Lithotripsy and ureteroscopy, for example, may be used to treatbiological concretions (e.g., kidney stones) in the body of patients.Lithotripsy is a medical procedure that uses energy in various forms,such as acoustic shock waves, pneumatic pulsation, electro-hydraulicshock waves, or laser beams, to pulverize biological concretions such asurinary calculi (e.g., kidney stones). The force of the energy, whenapplied either extracorporeally or intracorporeally, usually in focusedand continuous or successive bursts, divides the concretion into smallerfragments that may be extracted from the body, or allowed to pass fromthe body, for example, through urination.

In certain instances, intracorporeal fragmentation of bodily concretionscan become problematic if the stones or stone fragments, instead ofprogressing out of the patient's body, begin to migrate further into thebody or towards an organ. In these circumstances, further medicalintervention to prevent aggravation of the patient's condition maybecome necessary. Therefore, it may be desirable to be able to extractsuch fragments from the body using a single instrument, preventing theneed for successive instrumentation which can cause greater trauma tothe patient's tissue.

Accordingly, endoscopic procedures for treating abnormal pathologieswithin the alimentary canal system or biliary tree (including thebiliary, hepatic, and pancreatic ducts) are increasing in number.Improvements in the quality of instrumentation have establishedendoscopy as a significant method of diagnosing and treating manypancreatic and biliary diseases. In general, for treatment of anabnormal pathology within a patient's body, an endoscope is firstintroduced into the body of the patient. The endoscope includes aproximal end and a distal end, and a lumen extending longitudinallytherebetween. The endoscope may be guided through the patient'salimentary infrastructure until an opening at the distal end isproximate a desired location for gaining access to the area targeted fortreatment. For example, treatment of the biliary tree may involve thedistal end of the endoscope being positioned proximate the papilla ofvater leading to the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct. At thispoint, the endoscope allows for components (e.g., catheters, stents,sphincterotomes, retrieval assemblies, and balloons) inserted throughthe lumen to access the targeted area and perform a desired operation.

Many stone extraction devices (e.g., stents, retrieval assemblies, andcoiled medical extractions devices) can be used to entrap an object,such as a stone fragment, and drag it through an ampulla (i.e., a smalldilatation in the patient's anatomical lumen) to remove it. However,occasionally an object may be too large to be extracted through anampulla, or an obstacle is encountered upon forward movement of thestone fragment within the anatomical lumen. It may be necessary toprovide further treatment, for example, lithotripsy or surgery.

Coiled medical extraction devices may also be used to prevent unwantedmigration of stone fragments generated during a stone fragmentationprocedure, and then safely and efficiently extract fragments from thepatient's body. For example, during a lithotripsy procedure, a coiledmedical extraction device can act as a backstop against any unwantedmigration of stone fragments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention provide a medical device and procedure thatassists practitioners in the removal of tissue or foreign matter from adesired body portion by entrapment and releases the tissue or foreignmatter from entrapment when desired.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a medical devicemay include: an external elongate member having a proximal end, a distalend, and a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal anddistal ends; an internal elongate member extending within the lumen ofthe external elongate member and moveable relative to the externalelongate member; a retrieval assembly connected to a distal end of theinternal elongate member, retractable within and extendable from thelumen of the external elongate member, and having an end configured tobe selectively open or substantially closed; and a flexible memberintegrated with the end of the retrieval assembly for substantiallyclosing the end of the retrieval assembly.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a medical device mayinclude: an external elongate member having a proximal end, a distalend, and a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximal anddistal ends; an internal elongate member extending within the lumen ofthe external elongate member and moveable relative to the externalelongate member; and a retrieval assembly connected to a distal end ofthe internal elongate member, retractable within and extendable from thelumen of the external elongate member, and having an end configured tobe selectively open or substantially closed, wherein the end configuredto be selectively open or substantially closed is adapted to beselectively open when the retrieval assembly is expanded orsubstantially collapsed.

Various embodiments of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing aspects: the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed may comprise a distal end of the retrievalassembly; the device may further include an actuator having a proximalend actuable by a user for substantially closing or opening the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed; the actuatormay extend within a lumen of the internal elongate member; the flexiblemember may be interweaved with the end configured to be selectively openor substantially closed; the flexible member and actuator may comprisethe same material; the flexible member and actuator may comprise aone-piece construction; the internal elongate member may be connected toa proximal end of the retrieval assembly; the retrieval assembly mayfurther comprise a scaffolding having wires that cross each other atpoints, at least some of the wires may be connected at the points; atleast some of the wires that cross each other may be unconnected at thepoints; the scaffolding may define a plurality of spaces between wiresof the scaffolding; the retrieval assembly may be configured to beselectively expanded or substantially collapsed; the retrieval assemblymay be configured to be substantially collapsed when retracted into theexternal elongate member; the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed may be adapted to be selectively open when theretrieval assembly is expanded or substantially collapsed; the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed may adapted tobe substantially closed when the retrieval assembly is expanded orsubstantially collapsed; the internal elongate member may define aplurality of lumens; the plurality of lumens may include a first lumenaccommodating an actuator for substantially closing or opening the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed, and a secondlumen, which may be configured to accommodate a guidewire.

A further aspect of the present disclosure includes a method ofentrapping and removing an object from within a body. The methodincludes inserting a medical device into a body lumen, the medicaldevice having an external elongate member having a proximal end, adistal end, and a lumen extending longitudinally between the proximaland distal ends, an internal elongate member extending within the lumenof the external elongate member, a retrieval assembly connected to adistal end of the internal elongate member and having an end configuredto be selectively open or substantially closed, and a flexible memberintegrated with the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed. The method further includes advancing the medicaldevice to a desired body location, extending said internal elongatemember and retrieval assembly distally relative to the external elongatemember to deploy the retrieval assembly within a body lumen, entrappingthe object within the retrieval assembly, and removing the medicaldevice and entrapped object from within the body.

Various the embodiments of the invention may include one or more of thefollowing aspects: the external elongate member may be retrievedproximally to deploy the retrieval assembly within a body lumen; theinternal elongate member may define a plurality of lumens; the pluralityof lumens may include a first lumen accommodating an actuator forsubstantially closing or opening the end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed, and a second lumen, which may beconfigured to accommodate a guidewire; the method may further comprisethe step of substantially closing said end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed; the step of substantially closing the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed may beperformed after the retrieval assembly is deployed within a body lumen;the step of substantially closing the end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed may be performed prior to the step ofdeploying the retrieval assembly within a body lumen; the retrievalassembly may further comprise a scaffolding having wires that cross eachother at points, at least some of the wires may be connected at thepoints; at least some of the wires that cross each other may beunconnected at the points; the scaffolding may define a plurality ofspaces between the wires of the scaffolding; the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed may comprise a distal end ofthe retrieval assembly; the flexible member may be interweaved with theend configured to be selectively open or substantially closed; themedical device may further include an actuator having a proximal endactuable by a user for substantially closing or opening the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed; the methodmay further comprise the step of actuating the actuator to substantiallyclose the end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed;the step of actuating the actuator to substantially close the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed may beperformed before the retrieval assembly is deployed within a body lumen;the step of actuating the actuator to substantially close the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed may beperformed after the retrieval assembly is deployed within a body lumen;the method may further comprise the step of manipulating the actuator toopen the end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed;the step of manipulating the actuator to open the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed may be performed prior toremoving the medical device from within a body; the method may furthercomprise releasing the object from the retrieval assembly after openingthe end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed; theinternal elongate member may be connected to a proximal end of theretrieval assembly; the retrieval assembly may be configured to beselectively expanded or substantially collapsed; the method furthercomprising the step of expanding the retrieval assembly; the step ofexpanding the retrieval assembly may be performed prior to the step ofentrapping the object within the retrieval assembly; the retrievalassembly may be configured to be selectively expanded or substantiallycollapsed; the step of substantially closing the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed may be performed prior to stepof expanding the retrieval assembly; the step of substantially closingthe end configured to be selectively open or substantially closed may beperformed after the step of expanding the retrieval assembly; the stepof manipulating the actuator to open the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed may be performed prior to stepof expanding the retrieval assembly; the step of manipulating theactuator to open the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed may be performed after the step of expanding theretrieval assembly.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious fromthe description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained bymeans of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a medical device in an expanded state andhaving a selectively closeable distal end in an open configuration,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the device in FIG. 1 in a collapsed state.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the device in FIG. 1 in an expanded stateand with its distal end in a closed configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, anexample of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIGS. 1-3 depict certain configurations of an exemplary embodiment of amedical device 1. The medical device 1 includes an external elongatemember 10, an internal elongate member 20, and a distal retrievalassembly 40. As used in this disclosure, “distal” refers to a positionor direction furthest from a user of the device and “proximal” refers toa position or direction opposite “distal” and closest to the user.

External elongate member 10 may be any suitable sheath or catheter knownin the art. External elongate member 10 may be fabricated by any knownprocess such as, for example, extrusion. In addition, external elongatemember 10 may be made from any suitable material. Such materials mayinclude, but are not limited to, polyurethane and/or silicone. Externalelongate member 10 may have any desired cross-sectional shape and/orconfiguration. For example, external elongate member 10 may have asubstantially circular cross-section. The external elongate member 10may also have one or more cross-sectional shapes and/or configurationsalong its length, and may be any desired dimension suitable fordeployment within a desired body lumen. For example, external elongatemember 10 may have dimensions adapted for placement in a biliary ducthaving a particular size. For instance, the external elongate member 10may have an outer periphery that is substantially the same size as theinner periphery of the biliary duct having a particular size. Theoverall length and diameter of the external elongate member 10 may varydepending on the application. For example, a relatively long externalelongate member 10 may be advantageous for retrieving stones or otherconcretions deep within the body of a patient. Furthermore, externalelongate member 10 may also be flexible along at least a portion of itslength so that it may bend as it is advanced through tortuous bodylumens.

External elongate member 10 may further include at least one lumen 11extending therethrough. In some embodiments, lumen 11 may be defined asan internal passageway with an entrance and an exit, and may be formedby any suitable process such as, for example, extrusion. Alternatively,the external elongate member 10 may include a plurality of lumens (notshown) that may or may not differ in size. In such embodiments, theplurality of lumens may provide passageways useful in delivering, orremoving, for example, medical devices, fluids, and/or other structuresto or from a treatment site. The lumen 11 provided within member 10 mayhave any cross-sectional shape, dimension, and/or configuration. Forexample, in some embodiments lumen 11 may have a substantially circularcross-section.

Internal elongate member 20 extends within lumen 11 of the externalelongate member 10, and may be configured to move longitudinallyrelative to the external elongate member 10. Internal elongate member 20may be any suitable sheath or catheter known in the art. Internalelongate member 20 may be fabricated by any known process such as, forexample, extrusion. In addition, internal elongate member 20 may be madefrom any suitable material. Such materials may include, but are notlimited to, polyurethane and/or silicone. Furthermore, internal elongatemember 20 may have any desired cross-sectional shape and/orconfiguration. For example, internal elongate member 20 may have asubstantially circular cross-section. In addition, the internal elongatemember 20 may also have one or more cross-sectional shapes and/orconfigurations along its length, and may have any desired dimensionsuitable for deployment in a desired body lumen, and retraction intoelongate member 10. For example, the elongate member 20 may have anouter periphery that facilitates insertion into elongate member 10, andpermits longitudinal movement of internal elongate member 20 relative toexternal elongate member 10. The overall length and diameter of theinternal elongate member 20 may vary depending on the application. Forexample, a relatively small diameter may be advantageous for retrievingstones or other concretions from restricted passageways within the humanurinary tract. Furthermore, internal elongate member 20 may also beflexible along at least a portion of its length so that it may bend asit is advanced through tortuous body lumens.

Internal elongate member 20 may further include two lumens 22 and 23.The lumens 22 and 23 may be approximately the same size, oralternatively, they may differ in size. In some embodiments, the lumens22 and 23 may be separated by an internal wall 25, and may be defined asinternal passageways with entrances and exits. Wall 25 may be fabricatedfrom any suitable material and may be perforated or non-perforated. Thelumens 22 and 23 may comprise any cross-sectional shape, dimension,and/or configuration. For example, in embodiments where wall 25separates the lumens, the lumens may have a substantially semi-circularshape. Alternatively, the internal elongate member 20 may only include asingle lumen (not shown) defined as an internal passageway with anentrance and an exit. Lumens 22 and 23 or any other lumen provided maybe formed by any suitable process such as, for example, extrusion.

The retrieval assembly 40 includes wire-like scaffolding 45 manufacturedout of any material suitable for self-expansion, for example, one ormore metals and/or composites, such as, but not limited to, stainlesssteel or nitinol. The retrieval assembly 40 may have any desiredcross-sectional shape and/or configuration. For example, the retrievalassembly 40 may have a substantially circular cross-section. Theretrieval assembly 40 may also have one or more cross-sectional shapesand/or configurations along its length, and any desired dimensionssuitable for deployment in a desired body lumen. For example, retrievalassembly 40 may have dimensions adapted for placement in a biliary ducthaving a particular size. For instance, the retrieval assembly 40, in anexpanded state, may have an outer periphery that is substantially thesame size as the inner periphery of the biliary duct having a particularsize. In addition, the retrieval assembly 40 may have a configuration ordimensions, or have material properties, that permit longitudinalmovement of the retrieval assembly 40 relative to the external elongatemember 10 and extension and retraction into and out of the externalelongate member 10. The overall length and diameter of the retrievalassembly 40 may vary depending on the application. For example, arelatively small diameter may be advantageous for retrieving stones orother concretions from restricted passageways within the human urinarytract. The retrieval assembly 40 may also be collapsible so that it maybe more easily advanced through body lumens in its collapsed state, and,when desired, self-expandable for deployment.

The wire-like scaffolding 45 may be a stent or stent-like devicecomposed of a plurality of wires 46 having any desired pattern,configuration, and characteristic suitable for entrapping objects withinan anatomical lumen. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the wires 46may have a substantially criss-cross configuration, with the wires 46being unconnected at some of the cross-points 50 and connected at othercross-points 41. One exemplary advantage to using a stent or stent-likedevice having wires connected at some cross-points 41 and unconnected atother cross-points 50, is that such a configuration has fewerconnections and therefore greater open areas to facilitate entrapment ofobjects.

Scaffolding 45 may define a plurality of cells or spaces 47 between thewires 46. The spaces 47 may be of any suitable shape, size, and/orconfiguration. The spaces 47, along with the unconnected wires 46 atcross-points 50, for example, may be configured to accommodate and allowobjects to pass into the interior of the retrieval assembly 40 forentrapment and subsequent removal from the body.

Additionally, the retrieval assembly 40 may comprise a selectively openor closed distal end 43. In the embodiment shown, closing of the distalend 43 is accomplished through the use of a closure mechanism 60.Closure mechanism 60 includes suture or other similar flexible material61 surrounding the distal end 43 of assembly 40 and joined to wires 46at the distal end 43. The joining of material 61 to wires 46 may bethrough a loose interweaving of material 61 within spaces 47 at thedistal end of the scaffolding 45. However, any other suitable means ofjoining material 61 to retrieval assembly 40 may also be used.

User selected actuation of closure mechanism 60 to close distal end 43may be achieved through an actuator 62. The actuator 62 may be aflexible material such as suture or wire, or a rigid mechanical linkage,having proximal and distal ends. The actuator 62 may be provided in alumen of the internal elongate member 20, such as lumen 23, andaccessible to a user at the proximal end of lumen 23. Actuator 62 andmaterial 61 may be fabricated from the same material and comprise aone-piece construction. Alternatively, actuator 62 may be made of adifferent material from that of material 61 and attached to material 61at connection 63. Connection 63 of actuator 62 to material 61 may beaccomplished through any suitable means, such as welding, tying,adhesives, etc. In embodiments where a closure mechanism 60 is provided,one method of closing the distal end 43 may be accomplished by applyinga pulling force to the actuator 62 in the proximal direction. Pullingactuator 62 proximally places material 61 in tension so that it operatesas a cinching mechanism and cinches around the wires 46 in a manner thatcloses the distal end 43 of the retrieval assembly 40.

The distal end 43 of the retrieval assembly 40 may be selectivelyreturned to an open configuration by manipulating actuator 62 to removethe pulling force applied to the actuator 62. Because the retrievalassembly may be made of a resilient material suitable forself-expansion, or a shape (e.g., cylindrical) that possesses outwardlyacting radial forces, removing the pulling force applied to the actuator62 removes the tensile forces applied to material 61 and allows thedistal end 43 to resiliently return to an open configuration.

The retrieval assembly 40, shown and described in FIGS. 1-3, is anexemplary retrieval assembly that may be used in the method and deviceof the present invention. Any other suitable retrieval assembly capableof entrapping, releasing, and/or removing objects from within a bodylumen may be used.

Proximal end 48 of retrieval assembly 40 may be connected to a region ofthe internal elongate member 20, such as the distal end of internalelongate member 20, through any suitable connection means. Connection ofthe proximal end 48 to the internal elongate member 20 may beaccomplished through any suitable means of fixedly connecting retrievalassembly 40 to internal elongate member 20. For example, possibleconnections may include, but are not limited to, welding, soldering,and/or crimping.

As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the retrieval assembly 40 may be configured tocollapse and expand as desired. For example, the retrieval assembly 40may be configured to be collapsible such that it facilitates retractioninto lumen 11 of the external elongate member 10 as shown in FIG. 2,and/or advanced out of external elongate member 10, such that theretrieval assembly at least partially expands and/or fully expands asshown in FIG. 1. In such an example, the retrieval assembly 40 may becollapsed and retracted into lumen 1 1 of the external elongate member10, while the external elongate member 10 is being advanced through abody lumen to a desired body location. Once the elongate member 10 ispositioned at the desired body location, the retrieval assembly 40 maybe advanced out of the external elongate member 10 for expansion.

The retrieval assembly 40 may be retracted into and/or advanced out oflumen 11 of the external elongate member 10 using any method known inthe art. For example, by means of the connection between proximal end 48and the internal elongate member 20, movement of the internal elongatemember 20 relative to the external elongate member 10 causes theretrieval assembly 40 to also move relative to the external elongatemember 10, allowing the retrieval assembly to be retracted into and/oradvanced out of the elongate member 10. Any suitable known handleassemblies may be used at the proximal user end for actuation.

In reference to FIGS. 1-3, embodiments of the invention may includemethods of using the medical device 1 of the present disclosure toretrieve stones and other unwanted materials located in the bladder,ureter, kidney, or other body structures. Medical device 1 may be usedin an environment that is relatively fluid filled or that is relativelydry. The medical device 1 may be inserted through the urethra of apatient or, alternatively, the medical device 1 may be insertedpercutaneously. The medical device 1 may be used in any location of thebody in which a passageway or orifice includes unwanted material to beremoved and/or is being at least partially blocked.

The medical device 1 may be advanced to a treatment site in a number ofdifferent ways. For example, the device 1 may be advanced to a desiredbody location over a guidewire 12, wherein the desired body location maycorrespond to the vicinity of a stone, or another object targeted forremoval. The medical device 1 may also be advanced to the treatment sitethrough an access sheath or any other access device known in the art.

Alternatively, the medical device 1 may be fed to the desired bodylocation by means of an imaging device, and may travel through the bodywithout the use of a guidewire or access sheath. To facilitate suchfeeding, the external elongate member 10 may include radiopaque markerbands (not shown) detectable by x-ray or other imaging means. Thus, theuser may monitor the position of the device 1 and movement thereofthrough the use of an imaging device.

As yet another alternative, the device 1 may be used in conjunction withan endoscope (not shown) or any other type of intracorporeal scope knownin the art. The endoscope may travel through the body to the treatmentsite in any conventional manner. Once the endoscope is positionedadjacent to the treatment site, the medical device 1 may be fed throughan access port of the endoscope to gain access to the object targetedfor removal, such as a stone.

Although not shown, the object targeted for retrieval may be a bodilyconcretion such as, for example, a stone. The object targeted forretrieval may include, but is not limited to, kidney stones, gallbladderstones, uric acid stones, or other solids commonly removed from a bodystructure or passageway. The objects may be of any size and/or shape.Furthermore, the medical device 1 may be used to retrieve objects thatare both impacted and free floating.

In clinical applications where a guidewire 12 is used for access, theguidewire 12 may be advanced through a tortuous body lumen and past adesired body location. The medical device 1 then may be inserted intothe body lumen by inserting lumen 22 of the internal elongate member 20over guidewire 12. With the retrieval assembly 40 disposed inside of theexternal elongate member 10 and in a collapsed and retracted state, themedical device 1 then may be advanced over the guidewire 12 through abody lumen to a desired body location. For example, the medical device 1may be advanced until the distal end of the external elongate member 10has reached a desired location, such as, a short distance past an objecttargeted for entrapment and removal. The method is not limited to usewith any particular object, and may also be used with one or moreintracorporeal and/or extracorporeal objects at various locations and ofvarious geometries and compositions.

Once the distal end of the external elongate member 10 is advanced pasta targeted object, the internal elongate member 20 may then be advanceddistally out of external elongate member 10, so that the retrievalassembly 40 self expands. This may be achieved by pulling member 10proximally relative to member 20. When fully deployed, the retrievalassembly 40 may be substantially cylindrically shaped or have any otherconfiguration suitable to the particular size and shape of both thetargeted object and/or the environment it is located in. The proximalend 48 of the retrieval assembly 40 may remain in a collapsed stateand/or disposed within the external elongate member 10, and may be thenarrowest portion of the retrieval assembly 40. Alternatively, proximalend 48 may extend out of the distal end of external elongate member 10.

Once the internal elongate member 20 has been sufficiently advanced outof the external elongate member 10 to allow at least partial deploymentand/or expansion of retrieval assembly 40, the proximal end of theactuator 62 of closure mechanism 60 may be actuated such that the distalend of the retrieval assembly is closed. This may be achieved byapplying a pulling force to actuator 62 in the proximal directionrelative to the retrieval assembly 40. This causes material 61 to cincharound wires 46 at distal end 43 of assembly 40 to close distal end 43.The medical device 1 may then be moved proximally, and sometimesrepeatedly, such that the object targeted for entrapment passes throughspaces 47 and becomes entrapped within retrieval assembly 40.

In certain embodiments, the steps related to entrapping the targetedobject may be completed before the closure mechanism 60 is actuated toclose the distal end 43 of retrieval assembly 40. In other embodiments,the retrieval assembly 40 may be deployed into the body with its distalend 43 already in the closed configuration. Consequently, the retrievalassembly 40 also then may be deployed to its expanded state while thedistal end 43 remains in the closed configuration, as shown in FIG. 3.

The medical device 1, along with the entrapped object, may then be movedto any desired location, or may be allowed to remain stationary. Forexample, the medical device 1 may be used as an extraction device andremoved from the body, assist in immobilizing objects and used as abackstop, or moved to a location more conducive to any additionalprocedures, such as lithotripsy, surgery, or any other processes knownin the art.

In certain circumstances, it may be desired to release the entrappedobject after it has been captured in the retrieval assembly 40. To doso, the closure mechanism 60 may be actuated to open the distal end 43and allow the entrapped object to be released. For example, this may beaccomplished by opening the distal end 43 of retrieval assembly 40 andretracting the medical device 1 in the proximal direction, allowing theentrapped object to exit through the opened distal end 43.

The distal end 43 of the retrieval assembly 40 may be opened bymanipulating the actuator 62 to remove the pulling force imparted uponactuator 62 so that the distal end 43 may resiliently return to an openconfiguration, and allow the entrapped object to be released.

If desired, the closure mechanism 60 may again be actuated to close thedistal end 43, such that another targeted object may become entrappedwithin the retrieval assembly 40. Furthermore, the medical device 1 mayalso be re-used with the same patient, for example, by retracting theinner elongate member 20 and recollapsing the retrieval assembly 40within the external elongate member 10 and repositioning or reinsertingthe medical device 1 in the body.

By way of example, one advantage of using the retrieval assembly 40 witha selectively open or closed distal end 43 is that in cases where theentrapped object may be too large for successful removal from the body,the object may be released and the medical device 1 may be safelyremoved from the body.

Embodiments of the invention may be used in any medical or non-medicalprocedure, including any medical procedure where removal of an objectfrom within a body lumen is desired. In addition, at least certainaspects of the aforementioned embodiments may be combined with otheraspects of the embodiments, or removed, without departing from the scopeof the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art from consideration of the specification and practice of theinvention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification andexamples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spiritof the invention being indicated by the following claims.

1. A medical device comprising: an external elongate member having aproximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending longitudinally betweenthe proximal and distal ends; an internal elongate member extendingwithin the lumen of the external elongate member and moveable relativeto the external elongate member; a retrieval assembly connected to adistal end of the internal elongate member, retractable within andextendable from the lumen of the external elongate member, and having anend configured to be selectively open or substantially closed; and aflexible member integrated with the end of the retrieval assembly forsubstantially closing the end of the retrieval assembly.
 2. The deviceof claim 1, wherein the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed comprises a distal end of the retrieval assembly.3. The device of claim 1, further including an actuator having aproximal end actuable by a user for substantially closing or opening theend configured to be selectively open or substantially closed.
 4. Thedevice of claim 3, wherein the actuator extends within a lumen of theinternal elongate member.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexiblemember is interweaved with the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed.
 6. The device of claim 3, wherein the flexiblemember and actuator comprise the same material.
 7. The device of claim3, wherein the flexible member and actuator comprise a one-piececonstruction.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the internal elongatemember is connected to a proximal end of the retrieval assembly.
 9. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the retrieval assembly further comprises ascaffolding having wires that cross each other at points, at least someof the wires being connected at the points.
 10. The device of claim 9,wherein at least some of the wires that cross each other are unconnectedat the points.
 11. The device of claim 9, wherein the scaffoldingdefines a plurality of spaces between wires of the scaffolding.
 12. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the retrieval assembly is configured to beselectively expanded or substantially collapsed.
 13. The device of claim12, wherein the retrieval assembly is configured to be substantiallycollapsed when retracted into the external elongate member.
 14. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed is adapted to be selectively open when theretrieval assembly is expanded or substantially collapsed.
 15. Thedevice of claim 12, wherein the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed is adapted to be substantially closed when theretrieval assembly is expanded or substantially collapsed.
 16. Thedevice of claim 1, wherein the internal elongate member defines aplurality of lumens.
 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the pluralityof lumens includes a first lumen accommodating an actuator forsubstantially closing or opening the end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed, and a second lumen configured toaccommodate a guidewire.
 18. A medical device comprising: an externalelongate member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumenextending longitudinally between the proximal and distal ends; aninternal elongate member extending within the lumen of the externalelongate member and moveable relative to the external elongate member;and a retrieval assembly connected to a distal end of the internalelongate member, retractable within and extendable from the lumen of theexternal elongate member, and having an end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed, wherein the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed is adapted to be selectivelyopen when the retrieval assembly is expanded or substantially collapsed.19. The device of claim 18, further including a flexible memberinterweaved with the end of the retrieval assembly for substantiallyclosing the end of the retrieval assembly.
 20. The device of claim 19,further including an actuator having a proximal end actuable by a userfor substantially closing or opening the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed.
 21. The device of claim 18,wherein the retrieval assembly further comprises a scaffolding havingwires that cross each other at points, at least some of the wires beingconnected at the points.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein at leastsome of the wires that cross each other are unconnected at the points.23. The device of claim 21, wherein the scaffolding defines a pluralityof spaces between wires of the scaffolding.
 24. The device of claim 18,wherein the retrieval assembly is configured to be selectively expandedor substantially collapsed.
 25. A method of entrapping and removing anobject from within a body, comprising: inserting a medical device into abody lumen, the medical device comprising: an external elongate memberhaving a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extendinglongitudinally between the proximal and distal ends, an internalelongate member extending within the lumen of the external elongatemember, a retrieval assembly connected to a distal end of the internalelongate member and having an end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed, and a flexible member integrated with the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed; advancingsaid medical device to a desired body location; extending said internalelongate member and retrieval assembly distally relative to the externalelongate member to deploy said retrieval assembly within a body lumen;entrapping the object within the retrieval assembly; and, removing saidmedical device and entrapped object from within the body.
 26. The methodof claim 25, wherein said external elongate member is retrievedproximally to deploy said retrieval assembly within a body lumen. 27.The method of claim 25, wherein said internal elongate member defines aplurality of lumens.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the pluralityof lumens includes a first lumen accommodating an actuator forsubstantially closing or opening the end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed, and a second lumen configured toaccommodate a guidewire.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprisingthe step of substantially closing said end configured to be selectivelyopen or substantially closed.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein saidstep of substantially closing the end configured to be selectively openor substantially closed is performed after the retrieval assembly isdeployed within a body lumen.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein saidstep of substantially closing the end configured to be selectively openor substantially closed is performed prior to the step of deploying saidretrieval assembly within a body lumen.
 32. The method of claim 25,wherein the retrieval assembly further comprises a scaffolding havingwires that cross each other at points, at least some of the wires beingconnected at the points.
 33. The method of claim 32, wherein at leastsome of the wires that cross each other are unconnected at the points.34. The method of claim 32, wherein the scaffolding defines a pluralityof spaces between the wires of the scaffolding.
 35. The method of claim25, wherein the end configured to be selectively open or substantiallyclosed comprises a distal end of the retrieval assembly.
 36. The methodof claim 25, wherein the flexible member is interweaved with the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed.
 37. Themethod of claim 25, wherein the device further includes an actuatorhaving a proximal end actuable by a user for substantially closing oropening the end configured to be selectively open or substantiallyclosed.
 38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step ofactuating the actuator to substantially close the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed.
 39. The method of claim 38,wherein the step of actuating the actuator to substantially close theend configured to be selectively open or substantially closed isperformed before the retrieval assembly is deployed within a body lumen.40. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of actuating the actuatorto substantially close the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed is performed after the retrieval assembly isdeployed within a body lumen.
 41. The method of claim 37, furthercomprising the step of manipulating the actuator to open the endconfigured to be selectively open or substantially closed.
 42. Themethod of claim 41, wherein the step of manipulating the actuator toopen the end configured to be selectively open or substantially closedis performed prior to removing the medical device from within a body.43. The method of claim 42, further comprising releasing the object fromthe retrieval assembly after opening the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed.
 44. The method of claim 25,wherein the internal elongate member is connected to a proximal end ofthe retrieval assembly.
 45. The method of claim 25, wherein theretrieval assembly is configured to be selectively expanded orsubstantially collapsed.
 46. The method of claim 45, further comprisingthe step of expanding the retrieval assembly.
 47. The method of claim46, wherein the step of expanding the retrieval assembly is performedprior to the step of entrapping the object within the retrievalassembly.
 48. The method of claim 29, wherein the retrieval assembly isconfigured to be selectively expanded or substantially collapsed. 49.The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of expanding theretrieval assembly.
 50. The method of claim 49, wherein the step ofsubstantially closing the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed is performed prior to the step of expanding theretrieval assembly.
 51. The method of claim 49, wherein the step ofsubstantially closing the end configured to be selectively open orsubstantially closed is performed after the step of expanding theretrieval assembly.
 52. The method of claim 41, wherein the retrievalassembly is configured to be selectively expanded or substantiallycollapsed.
 53. The method of claim 52, further comprising the step ofexpanding the retrieval assembly.
 54. The method of claim 53, whereinthe step of manipulating the actuator to open the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed is performed prior to the stepof expanding the retrieval assembly.
 55. The method of claim 53, whereinthe step of manipulating the actuator to open the end configured to beselectively open or substantially closed is performed after the step ofexpanding the retrieval assembly.